SCD-1 vs DVP-S9000ES

Tmartinjn: I agree with you 100%. I owned 777es (very close to SCD-1) and 9000ES, I choose 9000ES by reasons you indicated and you are correct that most audiophiles view SCD-1/777es as better player.
Gmonis: please be easy on us. Did you express your opinion derived from actual comparison or did you repeat opinion of most audiophiles which is fine of course but still has to be stated and not to confuse with actual comparison - simon

Caa: I compared 777Es and 9000es by memory. I owned 777es for two months and then sold it. Many people do not trust aural memory. Therefore, you can easily distrust results of my observation, and it would be very logical. However, I am musician by education (classic piano) and life-long attendee of live concerts. I rarely compare one piece of equipment with other directly. I used to compare to my aural memory of the sound of acoustic instruments.AND I trust my ears. The problem that both 777es and 9000es has each set of shortcomings (defferent ones) needed to be corrected, most desirably by modification of their respective analog stages. - Simon
Gmorris: I fully accept "the reality that it (9000es) was not designed to compete with SCD-1, irrespective of what you would want to believe?". however, then I hear music, the goals of specific equipment design, you so eloquently desribed above, does not interfere with my sub-cognitive acceptance of the fidelity (to acoustic instuments) of the sound. Regarding your suggestion "Why don't you just enjoy your S9000ES..." I can't; its being upgraded to correct its set of shortcoming. Otherwise you are absolutely right - Simon

Moras... I agree with you and will add another consideration. "market". Rule of the tumb in audio industry that for each dollar invested in manufacturer, six must be added to retail. You must think about competitors! This is rational for modding: for each dollar you spend for better parts you spend between 30 and 150 cents for labor (depending on the rate of the particular modder which has NOTHING TO DO AT ALL with his qualifications). Obviously, transport and digital sections are extremely costly to change thus power supply and analog stage are easily targets of modifications. Finally, if someone decided to go via upgrade path, BEWARE of QUALIFICATIONS of modifyer. Good parts is not everything, one has to know what to do with them. From experience, I can highly recommend Stan Warren (541/344 - 3696 PST) and Richard Kern (www.audiomod.com)